Industry regulator, the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team, has spoken out to back the Property Ombudsman’s stance on portal juggling.
It has also spoken of the “harm” done to honest estate agents.
James Munro, team leader of NTSEAT, yesterday said: “We welcome The Property Ombudsman’s update to its Code of Practice, which will require members to comply with new guidance around how agents use online property search websites.
“The change in guidelines means its members – which includes the vast majority of practising estate agents – will be obliged to comply with the new rules.
“The practice of ‘portal juggling’ has seen some agents deliberately mislead potential home buyers by removing and relisting properties to make them appear new on the market or using the practice to manipulate sales figures.
“Breaches of the new guidance could lead to a ruling by the Ombudsman and also referrals to enforcement agencies – including the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team and local trading standards authorities.
“Such referrals could lead to prohibition orders or prosecution.
“We will continue to work closely with industry bodies – including The Property Ombudsman and other redress schemes – to stop this unfair and misleading practice, which misleads prospective home buyers and harms honest estate agents who conduct their business in a fair and professional manner.”
Members of the public who suspect an estate agent of portal juggling or spot anything suspicious on a major online portal are being urged report it to Citizens Advice on 03454 040506.
Comments (10)
It is good to see James Munro fulfilling his promise to attend to BPR as well as CPR.
The important bit in this story is the recognition of how some agents are manipulating their performance statistics and making outrageous claims. Effectively as soon as an agent makes outlandish claims of how well they are doing, “everything sold in 3 months” “99% of asking price achieved (last portaljuggled asking price) Honest and decent agents can by-pass the Institute of informal resolutions and finger wagging and go straight to local trading standards.
With a strong working relationship between NTSEAT and the redress schemes I am not sure expensive prosecution is necessary, simply remove redress: a simple swift and decisive way to stop all the shenanigans.
Who has the redress?
I struggle to find it looking up LPE’s details. I only see it on the main websites of businesses I thought didn’t have any employees, but subcontractors. How do I find if a subcontractor is legally trading with a redress scheme before I make a decision to use their services?
the threat of removing it from the main redress holder so affecting anyone in the pyramid is most likely generate a desire to comply with the rules all the honest agents have to abide by.
I would echo Roberts positive statement about James Munro and his team, with whom we both had an highly productive meeting last month. I have every confidence that various problems within the industry are receiving close and effective attention.
As regards this post; it seems that PurpleBricks can’t decide whether so called LPEs’ are employed (contrary to their stock market statements and thus potentially causing VAT NI and employment issues, amongst other problems) or self-employed (and potentially trading illegally with many LPE’s apparently not being individually registered with redress schemes, ICO, PI etc.).
I have a comfy chair and large bag of popcorn….
I’m going to be very cynical here Chris … you have a very long wait. Just about everyone can see what is going on but the regulators, who now find themselves in a position of no resources for all the moss that has gathered. TPO is just as bad, refuses to listen to its members agents … has the remit to only act when the public complain.
I understand your cynicism Woodentop however, having met with James Munro and the NTSEAT solicitor along with Robert May, I am confident that these matters are now being taken very seriously. True, I’m sure extra resources would be most welcome at Powys Trading Standards but, all they need is for agents like you and I to help by reporting to local trading standards or NTSEAT (or the TPO who have confirmed they will now pass on such complaints) and action can and will be taken.
If agents want to see prosecutions of those agents who we all know are breaking the law, they need to report wrong doing along with good evidence (screen shots etc.). Getting mad and just typing outrage on PIE doesn’t work.
If you’ve got friends you don’t need money. NTSEAT has both friends and respect.
Although the deadline for portal juggling is Saturday NTSEAT with a bit of help from his friends cut the worse offender down to a single juggle last night, someone didn’t get the memo, or was testing the systems.
That single juggle is enough to see of Zoopla are good to their word and will permanently ban the offenders
I am not going to let the cat out of the bag but controlling portal juggling was the first of 4 projects that will drive the rogues out of the industry like fleas off a mangy dog having a bath.
We have defied the cynics and the critics and there is now plenty more to come.
Don’t get me wrong I’m all for the move forward …. at last, but I have been around to see many civil servants with promises only to revert to excuses later on, time will tell.
‘Members of the public who suspect an estate agent of portal juggling or spot anything suspicious on a major online portal are being urged report it to Citizens Advice on 03454 040506.’
Please read the above as
“Members of the public who suspect an estate agent of portal juggling or spot anything suspicious ANYWHERE are being urged report it to Citizens Advice on 03454 040506.’
It’s not only on the portals that deception can take place.
And it needs reminding to certain powers-that-be – Estate Agents are “members of the public” too…
Why citizens advice? ….. are they not the regulator! One does have to question if the NTSEAT is fit for purpose, another quango that came about through the OFT ditching responsibility to another organisation to do the work for them, in this case a local council in sheep land, out of 4 bids …. none with estate agency experience!
Oh and you are correct PB but as you will have noticed they still refer to “members of the public”. Some of the best intel comes from within the industry and they refuse point blank to use it. They have known about this issue for over 12 months. You can just hear the police not accepting information from a grass !!!!!!!!!